Shanghai Bobby retired with ligament injury

The 3-year-old colt, winner of the 2012 Eclipse Award for top juvenile, sustained an injury to a suspensory ligament while winning the Aljamin Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 20. That was his first race since the March 30 Florida Derby, where he suffered a pelvic fracture.

Before the ligament injury was detected, Shanghai Bobby was being pointed to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint of Dirt Mile at Santa Anita in early November.

“It’s very disappointing,” trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. “He was a really great 2-year-old.”

Shanghai Bobby won all five of his starts as a juvenile — including the Hopeful at Saratoga and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile — and had six wins in eight career starts. He had career earnings of $1,857.00. He will begin a career as a stallion at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, joining fellow juvenile champions Lookin At Lucky, Uncle Mo and Hansen.

Starlight Racing owns 50 percent of Shanghai Bobby. Duanesburg’s Don Lucarelli is a managing partner of Starlight, along with Jack Wolf, who has homes in Kentucky and Saratoga Springs.

“He is probably the best colt we have ever had,” Lucarelli said late Sunday afternoon. “I am disappointed, there is no doubt about that. He brought us a lot of joy and excitement as a 2-year-old and we think he will have a good shot at being a stallion.”

Lucarelli and Starlight still could have a runner in the Breeders’ Cup. They will run Candy Kitty, a 2-year-old filly, in the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park on Sunday. The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. The Miss Grillo winner gets all enty fees paid and an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf race.